Independent Living Program and Extended Foster Care

Description

Service Description

Independent Living Program

The Independent Living Program (ILP) is a federally funded program which assists current and former foster youth between the ages of 16 and 21 achieve self sufficiency prior to, and after, exiting the foster care system.

Services available to help young people prepare for adulthood include: • Independent life skill classes • Daily living skills • Education resources • Assistance with applications for student aid • Help in getting a job • Housing resources • Money management • Decision making • Building self-esteem • Support and advocacy

Extended Foster Care

The goal of Extended Foster Care (AB12) is to assist foster youth in maintaining a safety net of support while experiencing independence in a secure and supervised living environment. The extended time as a non-minor dependent can assist the youth in becoming better prepared for successful transition into adulthood and self-sufficiency through education and employment training.​

To Qualify

Service To Qualify

Independent Living Program​

Youth in foster placement who receive state or federal foster care funds are considered eligible for services during the time they are in placement and after emancipation from the system. A young person may be referred to ILP by social workers, probation officers, foster parents, other county ILP coordinators or by self-referral. A social worker is assigned to each participant in ILP for case management. The social worker meets with the ILP eligible youth to develop a Transitional Independent Living Skill plan.

Services are based on need and availability of funding. For a youth to be eligible for services in the Independent Living Program, the youth must meet the California Department of Social Services guidelines for eligibility. Youth shall be eligible for ILP services up to their 21st birthday provided one of the following guidelines for eligibility is met:

• Youth was/is in foster care at any time from their 16th to their 19th birthday • Youth was/is 16 years of age up to 18 years of age and in receipt of the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (KinGap)

Extended Foster Care

The youth must meet one of the 5 participation conditions: • In the process of completing high school or an equivalent program (GED) • Be enrolled in a university, vocational school, or community college • Participating in a program designed to promote or remove barriers to employment • Employed at least 80 hours a month • Unable to do the above requirements due to a medical condition

In order to qualify for Extended Foster Care, the youth must also: • Be a dependent or ward of the Court

• Sign an agreement to reside in an eligible placement location and agree to work with a social worker or probation officer to develop and meet the goals of a Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP)

Youth who exited foster care to Adoptions or a relative Guardianship (KinGAP) are eligible for Extended Foster Care services if the youth exited after their 16th birthday. Youth who exited to a non-related guardianship are eligible for Extended Foster care regardless of the age they exited the system.